ROME—Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi has been accused by Ukraine of “kissing Putin’s bloody hand” after the three-time-prime minister and bunga bunga octogenarian stated he would by no means meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he blames for Russia’s invasion of his nation.
Berlusconi, whose document with doing the best factor is shaky at greatest, made the feedback Sunday evening at a polling station for regional elections in northern Italy. “All [Zelensky] needed to do was to cease attacking the 2 autonomous republics of the Donbas and this might not have occurred,” Berlusconi stated—a stance which is in direct battle with Italy’s coalition authorities underneath Giorgia Meloni, of which he’s a serious stakeholder. “I decide, very, very negatively the habits of this gentleman.”
Kyiv was fast to reply, with Ukraine’s Overseas Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko writing on Fb: “Berlusconi’s mindless accusations towards Zelensky are an try to kiss Putin’s arms, bloodied as much as the elbows. An try to display his loyalty to the Russian dictator.”
Meloni, who had been snubbed at a state dinner with the Ukraine president hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron final week, has been steadfast in her help for Ukraine, regardless of Berlusconi and her different coalition associate Matteo Salvini’s demonstrable tender spot for Putin. Salvini has been photographed with a Putin T-shirt standing in Pink Sq., and few will neglect Berlusconi’s “Putin’s mattress” scandal when an escort taped him directing her to the white ruffle mattress he stated his pal Vlad had given him.
The feedback have opened a widening fissure in Italy about its persevering with help for Kyiv. “An invasion of Ukraine brings the warfare nearer to dwelling, not additional away,” Meloni advised reporters in Brussels final week. “Whoever helps Ukraine works for peace.”
However a number of figures on the best are calling for a vote on Italy’s persevering with navy help, seemingly hoping to harness the anti-Zelensky vitality launched by Berlusconi. And a few on the left, together with socialist senator Enrico Borghi, say the rift ought to result in a confidence vote to check whether or not Meloni’s four-month-old authorities is unbroken. “Berlusconi’s pro-Putin and anti-Zelensky statements are a motive for resounding contradiction throughout the majority on such a basic problem as help to Ukraine,” Borghi stated Monday. “These positions isolate Italy and weaken the Western entrance.”
Mykhailo Podolyak, a prime Zelensky adviser, referred to as Berlusconi a “VIP agitator who acts throughout the framework of Russian propaganda, trades Italy’s popularity for his friendship with Putin.”
“His phrases are damaging to Italy,” Podolyak stated in an interview with La Repubblica. “Throw off the masks and say publicly that you’re in favor of the genocide of the Ukrainian folks.”
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